The best campsites in Shropshire with horseback riding

Northern Shropshire is the county’s agricultural heartland and the place to escape the crowds. Time your visit to Oswestry for market day, climb the ramparts at Whittington Castle, then continue to Market Drayton to sample the local gingerbread produced in the town for more than 200 years.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ironbridge Gorge is the star attraction of East Shropshire, an impressive symbol of the Industrial Revolution that spans the Severn Valley. Built in 1779, it’s not just any bridge—this was the world’s first bridge made of iron and a symbol of development in both architecture and technology. You can walk across it, stand under it, and find out all about the history in a series of attractions that are together called the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. Then, stop by the market towns of Telford and Newport, take a ride on the famous Severn Valley Railway from Bridgnorth, then continue to Birmingham, less than an hour’s drive away.

Idyllic country hills, historic castles, and lively market towns make up the rolling landscapes of the Shropshire Hills AONB in southwest Shropshire—and they’re a magnet for campers. Check into a rural campsite, caravan park, or glamping pod near towns like Church Stretton, Bishop’s Castle, and Much Wenlock, then take your pick of walking, biking, and horseback riding trails. Offa’s Dyke National Trail, which follows the English-Welsh border, runs along the western edge of the hills and is a great starting point for hiking in the area. The Wrekin, an isolated wooded ridge, is another popular place to walk that’s family-friendly with great views.

There’s no denying the appeal of camping, and we can’t recommend camping with kids enough. The pure joy of camping means most campsites are pretty kid-friendly, but some in Shropshire designed with children in mind. You may find play areas and activities laid on for younger visitors, while other campsites are set close to family-friendly Shropshire attractions like the living museums at Ironbridge Gorge and the Severn Valley Railway. Whether your kids are tiny tots or turning into teenagers, camping in Shropshire offers a great family holiday.

While a majority of campsites welcome campers of all ages, there are a few spots in Shropshire that keep their camping sites for adults only. These can be precious bolt holes for those on romantic weekend breaks or campers who just want a quiet getaway. And whether your adults-only camping trip to Shropshire is a romantic break, a holiday with friends, or a solo camping trip, the county offers both plenty of places to explore. The fascinating history of the industrial revolution is explained for all ages at Ironbridge, but without kids in tow, you can take your time to learn more about how Shropshire helped change the world. You can also take on more adventurous hiking, cycling, and adventure on the water when you don’t have to worry about little legs getting tired. Or, of course, you could just kick back at your campsite with blissfully little responsibility but your own rest and relaxation.

There are, blissfully, no cities in Shropshire. Instead, its main population centres, outside of modern Telford, are historic market towns and villages. For campers, Telford’s main lures are simply as a place for picking up supplies and, perhaps, the cinema, swimming pool, or ice rink. Nearby Ironbridge is, rightfully, popular too, as is Shrewsbury, a market town known for pretty medieval buildings tucked among “shuts and passages” (alleyways). Whatever you do, don’t get chatting to the locals about how to pronounce Shrewsbury (or is it Shrowsbury?)—it’s been an on-going row for years.